JAY — The biggest marble and granite producer in North America — and one of the largest natural stone companies in the world — held a grand opening Friday at its newest plant in North Jay.
Polycor Inc. of Canada unveiled its $4 million facility, Swenson Curbing by Polycor, to town and state officials. The company also owns Jay White Quarry next to the plant.
“It’s just amazing that 100 years ago this quarry was such a big part of Jay,” Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said. It employed about 300 people, she said.
“We are very glad to have Polycor” and to have the quarry active again, she said.
Big slabs of granite were stacked outside the plant, and some were at each of the manufacturing stations inside to show the equipment used to turn them into curbing.
A grand opening for the public will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. The temporary access road goes through Mary Howes’ property at 16 Woodman Hill Road. A permanent access road is planned off Old Jay Hill Road.
LaFreniere, with the help of Gov. Paul LePage and George Gervais, commissioner of Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, cut the ribbon signifying the grand opening.
Polycor Inc. acquired Swenson Granite of New Hampshire and and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rock of Ages in Vermont, last week to make it one of the biggest marble and granite producers in North America and one of the largest natural stone companies in the world, Kevin Jack, director of operations for Polycor based in Quebec, said.
It gives the company 800 employees — half of them in Canada and half in the United States. Polycor Inc. has 30 quarries, 12 factories, seven stores and six offices in the two countries, according to a news release.
It is expected the acquisition will bring over $150 million in revenue per year.
Jack thanked all involved — from the governor and his administration to LaFreniere and Jay’s Board of Selectpersons — for their help in bringing the company to Maine, set up operations and train employees.
“We look forward to building jobs in Maine,” he said.
There are 15 employees at the North Jay plant and quarry.
Gov. LePage said it was great to do business with Polycor and thanked the Canadian company for investing in Maine. He said the state needs to make sure the company gets all of the resources it needs to operate successfully.
“I think Polycor is here for the long haul,” he said.
“Quarrying is a dying art,” Ted Johnston, president of Resource Policy Group Inc., said. He has helped the company set up in Jay. There are only a few of quarriers in the state and it takes a lot to get workers trained, he said.
Resource Policy Group helps dozens of Maine aggregate producers with quarry and pit licensing at the state and municipal levels.
LaFreniere has helped the company get training grants from the state.
Polycor Inc. bought the quarry from J.C. Stone Inc. in Jefferson in May 2015, Jack said. In February 2015 the company said it planned to invest $4 million in the project and was expected to inject approximately $3 million per year into the local economy.
Troy Bonnevie, production manager for the new plant, has lived in Jay all his life and spent most of it working in the paper industry.
“It’s very interesting to be bringing the quarry back,” he said.
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